
Soil-Plant Interactions in the McDaniel Lab










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Marshall McDaniel marsh@iastate.edu | google scholar
Associate Professor in Soil-Plant Interactions | Agronomy Department at Iowa State University
The fearless leader, and mischeif maker.
Hobbies: My spare time is spent playing guitar and bass, mtn biking, playing board games (and card games).

Stephen Potter swpotter@iastate.edu
Research Technician
Curious about biology, plant ecology, and microbiology
Hobbies: fishing, reading, hiking, and camping
Professional & Scientific Staff

Valeria Cano Camacho vcano@iastate.edu | twitter
Agricultural Specialist
Curious about the connections between land and people, how cultures influence agriculture, and soil health.
Hobbies: hammocking, reading, hiking, and spending time with loved ones

Tim Youngquist timyoung@iastate.edu
Agricultural Specialist
Curious about water quality, perennial crops, finding space for wildlife habitat within agricultural systems
Hobbies: native plant propagation, ecological restoration, old house preservation, chickens, time with my family

Matt Woods mwoods@iastate.edu
Agricultural Specialist
Curious about everything agronomy.
Hobbies: music, sports, and outdoor activities.
Postdoctoral Researchers

Jared Flater jflater@iastate.edu | twitter
Postdoctoral Researcher, Ph.D. in Agriculture Biosystems Engineering from ISU in 2020
Curious about healthy soil microbiomes, belowground systems, improving agriculture through soil biology.
Hobbies: running (esp. long distance), hiking and camping with wife and dog, conservation/naturalism

Cole Dutter cdutter@iastate.edu
Postdoctoral Researcher, Ph.D. in Soil Science and Sustainable Agriculture from ISU 2022
Curious about cropping systems, soil health, farming externalities and sustainable agriculture.
Hobbies: beekeeping, backpacking, cycling, gardening and reading

Toby Adjuik tadjuik@iastate.edu | google scholar | twitter
Postdoctoral Researcher, Ph.D. in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from U. of Kentucky 2022
Curious about soil greenhouse fluxes, process-based and machine learning modeling, and soil amendments.
Hobbies:cooking, listening to podcasts, soccer, and working out
Graduate Students

Derrick Kapayou dkapayou@iastate.edu | twitter
M.S. in candidate in Sustainable Agriculture and M.A. in Anthropology
Curious about intercropping, soil health, cultures, effects of climate change, and sustainable agriculture
Hobbies: playing mini golf, skydiving, fishing, painting, cooking, and bicycling.

Ala Khaleel akhaleel@iastate.edu | google scholar | twitter
Ph.D. Student in Soil Science and Environmental Science
Curious about soil health and water quality, deep soil organic C, and C & N cycling related enzymes.
Hobbies: reading, camping, hiking, birdwatching, basketball, cooking, music, piano, time with my family.

Jessica Nelson jnelson9@iastate.edu
Ph.D. Student in Soil Science & Sustainable Agriculture
Curious about the plant-microbe-soil interactions, building resiliency, and producing more balanced food.
Hobbies: gardening, traveling, hiking, training, healthy food, crystal collecting, and spending time with animals.

Reid Barker rwbarker@iastate.edu
M.S. in Soil Science & Environmental Science
Curious about soil conservation, water conservation, and water quality.
Hobbies: hunting, fishing, archery, guitar, cooking, gardening, and woodworking.

Max Eness meness@iastate.edu
Ph.D. in Soil Science
Curious about the relationship between yield and sustainability, ag-based climate solutions and how plants influence their own environment.
Hobbies: games of all sorts, fencing, wood working and all things history.

Mila Victorio Pessotto pessotto@iastate.edu
Ph.D. in Agronomy
Curious about sustainable production systems, cover crops, soil fertility and soil health
Hobbies: reading, barbecuing, and spending time with family and friends
Undergraduate Students

Christar Kin crkin@iastate.edu
B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering
Curious about sustainability and decreasing environmental effects of the bioeconomy
Hobbies: reading, card games, raising water awareness, exploring nature, taking pictures of clouds.

Malcolm St Cyr mystcyr@iastate.edu | twitter
B.S. in Agronomy
Curious about soil formation and fertility, and using combination to manage soil-plant interactions.
Hobbies: discovering historical figures/places by reading or traveling, watching movies/documentaries, listening to music, and having conversations.

Sokhna Khadija Mbacke smbacke@iastate.edu
B.S. in Agronomy
Curious about plant production and management practices for soil preservation.
Hobbies: working out and cooking

Sydney Pottebaum sydpott@iastate.edu
B.S. in Independent Studies
Curious about water quality, sustainability, and the relationship between soil and climate change.
Hobbies: running, swing dancing, and puzzles/games

Rebekah Veldboom rveld@iastate.edu
B.S. in Environmental Science
Curious about about land and water use, prairie conservation, and biodiversity in soils and plant communities
Hobbies: outdoor adventures, reading, listening to music, piano, and tennis

Wes Kramer wnkramer@iastate.edu
B.S. in Agronomy
Curious about about sustainability, keeping Iowa's soils productive, nutrient-plant relationships; especially testing new, unorthodox, or outside-of-the-box means of fertilization.
Hobbies: walking through the woods, fishing, movies, and music

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